As the Bombay High Court has promulgated an SOP mandating physical appearances in all subordinate courts and full-strength attendance in two shifts daily from 1st December, many lawyers are perplexed. Raju Z. Moray gives a poetic voice to their concerns.
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If this is not plain crazy
It certainly seems whimsical
After hyping up the Virtual
We are going back to Physical
To improve some statistics
And to prevent the likely rifts
Wise Milords have ordained
Let's now work in two shifts
SOPs are comprehensive
And rules must not be bent
Attendance in all the courts
Must now be 100 percent
Never mind the hardships
Or extensions of lockdown
Please be there on time
And don't forget your gown
Yes, we know you still cannot
Travel as you desire by train
But we have gone by feelings
Not wishing to tax the brain
If you cannot make it on time
Don't mention cases out of turn
No harm will be caused at all
We are sitting just to adjourn
Then why take the trouble to sit
Someone may quite logically ask
Justice must appear to be done
And that is a Herculean task.
(Raju Z Moray is an advocate who practices law in the Bombay High Court when not puncturing bloated egos. He is the creator of 'Gobble D. Gook', his alter-ego, who figured in the 'Court Jester' columns of 'The Lawyers'.)